Church of the Redeemer Addresses Gun Violence Through Prayer and Action
Tara Bennett, chair of the Peace and Justice Committee, discusses how Church of the Redeemer is putting its prayers into action through gun safety in our community.
Tara Bennett
Call to action against guns in churches
Two-minute read. Updated. The Peace and Justice Committee is urging members of The Diocese of West Missouri to contact the Missouri Senate to ask them to oppose House Bill 282, which removes current restrictions on the concealed carry of firearms in churches.
Call to Action – Guns in Churches Vote in Missouri House
Six-minute read. We need urgent action TODAY urging the Emerging Issues Committee of the Missouri House of Representatives to vote ‘DO NOT PASS’ on HB 485, which will force churches to allow concealed carry in church buildings unless signage is posted at every entrance banning guns.
Gun Violence Legislative Advocacy Day
Three-minute read. The Diocese of West Missouri Peace and Justice Committee is teaming up with the Missioner for Gun Violence from the Diocese of Missouri to attend the lawmaker Advocacy Day for common sense gun legislation in Jefferson City. We would like to invite you and anyone in your parish who is interested in gun safety legislation to join us.
Be SMART: Addressing Firearm Death in Children through Telling Your Peers to Be SMART
Three-minute read. The fifth and final step in the Be SMART program is “T” Tell Your Peers to Be SMART.
Be SMART: Recognize the role of guns in suicide
Two-minute read. The fourth step in the Be SMART program is “R” Recognize the Role of Guns in Suicide. Firearm suicide is uniquely lethal — 90 percent of suicide attempts using a gun end in death and half of suicides in the US are gun suicides.
Be SMART: Addressing shootings by children through asking about unsecured guns in other homes
Three-minute read. The third step “A” Ask About Unsecured Guns in Other Homes. There are approximately 4.6 million US children living in a household with at least one loaded, unlocked gun. That’s why you need to Ask about firearms in other homes your child visits.
Be SMART: Addressing firearm death in children through Modeling responsible behavior around firearms
Three-minute read. The second step in the Be SMART program is “M” Model Responsible Behavior. Every law-abiding adult has the right to decide whether or not to have a gun in the home. But, you can’t rely on curious kids not to find a gun.
Be SMART: Addressing firearm death in children through Secure storage of firearms
Three-minute read. The first step in the Be SMART program is “S” Secure your guns in homes and vehicles. 13 million households with children contain at least one gun. And the majority of children know where the gun is stored. Hiding a gun is not securing a gun.
Be SMART for the Holidays
One-minute read. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is here again – along with the planning, the prepping and the packing. If you’re one of the millions of families who will be visiting family or friends this year, there’s one important thing you need to add to your holiday checklist: talking about responsible gun storage.
Addressing the gun violence crisis involving children through the Be SMART program
Two-minute read. Peace and Justice Committee addresses Gun Violence through educational Be SMART program for churches to help prevent shootings by children.